On the first day, three heads decapitated. Five hearts crushed, and five bodies split in two.
On the second day, one head decapitated, and nine bodies split in two.
On the third day, five heads decapitated, and one heart crushed.
On the fifth day, one head decapitated, five heads exploded, and three hearts crushed.
On the sixth day, three heads exploded, three hearts crushed, and one stomach pierced.
On the eighth day, the sky wept.
Kaiser watched the droplets of water splash the leaves. The rain was heavy enough to drip and seep through the roof of the hut Kaiser had built in haste.
"Seven days," the voice of Ormr Simulacra broke the silence between them.
Kaiser turned toward the woman.
"If I hadn't decided to surrender, would you have even thought about stopping, Human Warrior?"
In human form, Ormr Simulacra narrowed her blue eyes as she looked at Kaiser.
The Warrior before Ormr Simulacra did not answer. It was not necessary, because Ormr Simulacra also knew the answer.
This was the first time a single human had pushed her this far until she exhausted and wanted to stop the fight. There's no winner and no loser, but this was the first time since thousands of years she fight human for a long time.
"Are you an Apostle or a Transcendent?" Ormr Simulacra asked again.
"Apostle…." Kaiser paused for a moment, recalling the meaning of that term. "Those who receive power and blessings from a god. I don't remember ever receiving anything from a god, so it seems I am not. And I am not a Transcendent, because I am still at the level of Grand Knight, Martial Master—or whatever you call it. One level below the peak."
"Interesting. A human who hasn't even reached the peak fighting a Sacred Beast… why did you do it?"
"Because I wanted to."
Kaiser had no answer or strong reason other than to test his limits. For someone who perfected the control of his own power, the best enemy to Kaiser was beyond human, like a Sacred Beast. Unfortunately, the fight stopped before he knew his limits. To him, the peak were mere illusion created by the perspective from one's belief. And Kaiser was certain that becoming a Transcendent only an another beginning.
"You are a strange Nous. Never have I seen your kind do this—and succeed in living and chatting with the creature he killed many times."
"I'm built different."
"I indeed do not have much experience fighting humans compared to the other Sacred Beasts. You have killed me 57 times in seven days, and I could only give you five wounds that won't even leave a permanent scar. Even the ability that should have been able to deceive reality was unable to deceive your eyes. What kind of birth could make you different from other humans?"
"As I said, I was born different from other humans. My eyes are Evil Eyes—cursed eyes capable of granting power to the human who possesses them."
"Evil Eyes? Is that a new term for Magic Eyes in this era?"
"I've never heard of 'Magic Eyes' before, but if the object meant has the same definition, perhaps that's true."
Ormr Simulacra nodded at Kaiser's explanation.
A moment later, an obsidian-black horn caught Kaiser's attention. On one side of Ormr Simulacra's forehead. She broke her own horn and handed it over.
"…Consider that you succeeded in defeating me; accept this horn and gain glory, Warrior."
Kaiser watched the horn in his hand in silence for a few moments. However, he then shook his head. "As I said. My goal was only to test my own abilities. I have no grudge against you, nor ambition for glory that requires proof of your defeat. My reason for fighting was over the moment you decided to stop fighting."
"…You are a rare human, Warrior." Ormr Simulacra thought. The human before her was very different from anyone she had ever met. In general, let alone a horn, their greed will be equal to a pig.
For the first time in a long while, Ormr Simulacra felt strong emotions. That human had awakened her from a monotonous life.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. "May I hear your name, Warrior?"
"Kaiser."
"Kaiser, son of Nous. This is the first time in millennia I've gone through a long fighting against man and have a casual chat in the end. And I am grateful because that person is you, Warrior."
"…I may not be able to know or understand the feeling, but I understand what you mean, Ormr Simulacra." Kaiser nodded. He understood what the snake woman was talking about. From certain perspectives, Kaiser was not much different from the Sacred Beast.
Two lonely souls.
A human from the modern era.
And a Sacred Beast from hundreds of thousands of years ago.
One isolated because no one understood his thoughts. The other isolated because the world always changing while she remained static.
"Ormr Simulacra. The Transcendent … humans capable to be equal to gods … what are they actually like?"
"Ormr Simulacra is the name your kind gave. And it holds a history that is unpleasant for your race. I don't blame you. However, I choose the name Sol-yure as my identity." Her eyes softened. An expression that shouldn't be shown to your enemy. "Even though you might not remember it, I hope you at least hear that name, O great Warrior of Nous."
Kaiser fell silent because of it. "Sol-yure…." He lowered his gaze and muttered, "…Sol… Solus?."
Kaiser raised his gaze toward Ormr Simulacra, Sol-yure, again. "In that case, allow me to call you by that name, Sol-yure."
"Of course. And as for your question … although they are said to be 'equal', the truth is, they are more like Sacred Beasts."
"How so?"
"I know the creator of the power within you, but that is as far as my knowledge goes," Sol-yure continued. "That power born to help humans control Ether, albeit on a more inferior scale. In its final stage, humans will be able to control Ether completely like us. You, Warrior, are the human closest to achieving Transcendence with your extraordinary control."
"The final stage of Pneuma Art is becoming a Transcendent… what about mages?"
"I'm not sure how much of a difference there is because I encounter types of mages more often than swordsmen. They—swordsmen—are not scattered across this land in large numbers. It's different, but same in essence; both aim to be one with the world."
Kaiser's attention returned to the "field" where they had fought. Once, the land on the mountain had varying heights and many small forms of plant life. After the battle between two of them, everything destroyed, remain flat.
"This mountain is gone, along with the cave you lived in. Human soldiers from the nearest territory will surround this place soon." Kaiser turned toward Sol-yure, wondering what the Sacred Beast would do next.
"I will leave."
"I see…."
"I will look for a place more difficult for humans to reach. Maybe a mountain range."
And return to isolation.
No one needed to say that because it was obvious.
The world didn't need a Sacred Beast like Sol-yure. However, from the beginning, only the Sacred Beast itself could determine its own fate. Even humans should be like that. Not bound by offerings and gods who do not understand humanity.
"Tell me, must you always distance yourself from all creatures and live in solitude as before?" Kaiser asked.
"There is nothing in the world worthy of that much attention."
Sol-yure had lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Or more. She has seen thousands of civilizations and individuals from many races. Among Nous, Kaiser was an anomaly. Even no kings were parallel to Kaiser.
Except Kaiser himself—
"How about you come with me?"
"Oh?" A spark of interest appeared in Sol-yure's blue eyes. "Do you know what you mean by that? Inviting a Sacred Beast?"
"Well, I actually don't have a grand goal myself. Finding a suitable plot of land for a home is my goal. But who knows we'll find something interesting on the journey? Even something different from everything you've experienced in your life? Besides, if you get tired and find a place you want to stay, we can also part ways there."
"Do you know that I have rejected many kings and heroes who tried to ask me to be their comrade?"
Hearing the offer, Sol-yure a little tempted. If it were someone else, she might have refused. After all, their goal in wanting to bring her along was the unlimited power of a Sacred Beast. Most who tried to invite Sol-yure to a faction were kings. They wanted to control the power of a Sacred Beast.
A kingdom once tried that, and they vanished from the map.
"Well, if you don't want to, no problem. I'm not forcing you. After all, my goal in inviting you is to have a travel companion. It would be boring to go alone without anyone to talk to, wouldn't it?"
One of the reasons Kaiser invited Sol-yure was because she wasn't human. She was a Sacred Beast. Kaiser trusted a Sacred Beast more than a human to keep secrets that people shouldn't know.
"…Very well. I will go with you, Warrior."
"Aren't you too quick?"
"I have lived long enough. This one small decision doesn't affect my life much."
She wasn't wrong.
"Then, welcome, Sol-yure."
"Thank you, Warrior."